Chapter 1 *

Chapter 1 Chapter 1
Angelina's POV

The Pacific Ocean.
Afternoon sunlight scattered across the deep blue sea surface, sparkling with light.
I stood on the top deck, overlooking this luxury yacht. This was my mobile fortress custom-made three years ago—bulletproof steel plates, underwater sonar system, anti-missile devices, helicopter landing pad, even a small armory.
As the Alpha of Riverbend Pack, I spent five years conquering the other 49 packs in America. I had now become the ruler of the world's strongest pack.
Twenty-four elite guards, rotating in three shifts, monitoring all movement within ten nautical miles.
Three escort speedboats formed a defensive perimeter around the yacht.
Two armed drones conducted round-the-clock aerial reconnaissance in the sky.
Any unidentified vessels attempting to approach would be identified and intercepted five nautical miles out.
This trip to sea, ostensibly a vacation, was actually to shake off those annoying tails.
Three months ago, I massacred Blackout's headquarters and retrieved what rightfully belonged to me—a blood-red wolf fang necklace.
I raised my hand to touch the necklace at my throat. The blood-red wolf fang gleamed in the sunlight. Even when I transformed into wolf form, it would automatically shrink, clinging beneath my fur, never falling off.
As if it were part of my body all along.
I lifted a glass of red wine, taking a light sip, enjoying the sea breeze brushing against my face.
"Alpha, all surrounding waters clear." A guard's voice came through the earpiece.
"Good." I responded lightly.
Just as the words left my mouth, all communication devices simultaneously emitted a piercing noise.
"Bzzt—bzzt—"
Then, dead silence.
No sound in the earpiece.
I immediately became alert, reaching for the pistol at my waist.
But everything was too late.
"BOOM!"
A muffled explosion came from the yacht's lower level.
No, not an explosion—the sound of some device activating.
I understood immediately—electromagnetic pulse device.
All electronic equipment was instantly destroyed.
Immediately after, I felt the Pack's mind link beginning to blur, as if interfered with by some force.
Damn it.
They not only blocked electronic devices but also interfered with the mind link.
This required very powerful witchcraft.
It seemed Blackout had really invested heavily this time.
"Bang bang bang!"
Gunfire came from the lower deck, accompanied by my guards' roars and screams.
I didn't hesitate, leaping directly from the top deck, landing on the third-level deck.
The scene before me made my eyes narrow.
Five guards' corpses lay scattered on the ground, all with silver bullets through their hearts, killed in one strike.
And those who killed them were eight humans in black tactical gear.
They wielded silver weapons—silver bullets, silver knives, and sprayers dispensing wolfsbane.
Hunters.
Human hunters who specialized in killing werewolves.
"Angelina." The lead man in black slowly turned around.
I recognized him—Drake, codename "Cinder," former special forces member, now international mercenary, and also a senior member of the hunter organization "The Order."
"Drake." I sneered, "How much did Blackout pay to make you dare come to your death?"
"Fifty million dollars." Drake raised the silver rifle in his hand, aiming at my heart, "The Order added another ten million. Sixty million dollars, enough for my family to live worry-free for the rest of their lives."
"Provided you can live to collect it."
My eyes began changing color, from black to silver. Powerful pressure erupted from my body, the air seeming to freeze.
All eight hunters simultaneously stepped back. Though human, they could feel the Alpha's terrifying aura.
"Fire!" Drake roared.
Gunfire erupted, all silver bullets.
I became a blur, weaving between bullets. Silver bullets grazed my clothing, leaving craters in the deck.
Since they wanted to play for real, I wouldn't be polite either.
I stopped, closing my eyes.
All the bones in my body began making cracking sounds, muscles expanding, black fur emerging from beneath the skin.
Three seconds later, a massive black wolf with silver eyes appeared on the deck.
The wolf fang necklace at my throat automatically shrank, clinging to my fur, emanating a faint red glow.
I howled toward the sky, the sound shattering surrounding glass.
The eight hunters' faces instantly turned pale.
The battle lasted only one minute.
My claws tore open the first hunter's throat.
My fangs snapped the second hunter's spine.
The third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh...
Finally, only Drake remained.
He was already covered in wounds, back against the deck railing, his silver rifle long since dropped.
I slowly approached him, my massive wolf form casting a huge shadow.
"Go back and tell those old fools at Blackout," I growled, my voice low and deadly, "Even in hell, I'll come settle accounts with them."
I didn't kill him.
I needed someone alive to carry the message back.
To let those rats hiding in the shadows know the consequences of provoking me.
Drake slumped on the ground, his eyes filled with the terror of survival and disbelief.
"You... you're sparing me?"
"Get lost."
Drake struggled to his feet, staggering toward the escape passage at the deck's edge.
His footsteps faded.
"Danger! Angelina! Run fast!"
My wolf Yara suddenly roared frantically, her voice full of fear and urgency.
My instincts simultaneously screamed warnings.
Extreme danger!
I sniffed the air sharply.
A faint scent, almost masked by the sea breeze, entered my nostrils.
Gunpowder.
C4 explosives!
My pupils instantly contracted.
Damn it! They had a Plan B!
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
Continuous explosions erupted from the yacht's bottom, flames shooting skyward.
The entire yacht shook violently, beginning to tilt.
I didn't hesitate, my massive wolf form leaping toward the sea surface.
But the explosion was faster.
"BOOM!!!"
The entire yacht exploded completely behind me, the massive shockwave and flames sweeping forth like an enraged dragon.
Even though I had already leaped into the air, I was still struck by that destructive force.
My body flew like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the Pacific's icy waters.
Unable to maintain wolf form, I reverted to human form.
Internal organs damaged, ribs fractured, blood gushing from mouth and nose, staining the surrounding seawater red.
I was sinking.
Continuously sinking.
Consciousness growing increasingly blurred.
Is this... the end?
The Alpha who conquered the entire world, dying in the Pacific?
No... I still have unfinished business.
I still need to find those parents who abandoned me.
I still need to ask them why... why they gave birth to me, then heartlessly abandoned me...
The wolf fang necklace at my throat suddenly grew hot.
The searing temperature brought me a moment of clarity in the icy seawater.
I struggled to lift my hand, wanting to touch the necklace.
But the moment my fingers touched it, the necklace erupted with blinding blood-red light.
The light grew brighter, especially dazzling in the dark seawater.
It was pulsing.
Beating like a heart.
As if responding to my unwillingness.
The temperature grew higher and higher, from hot to scorching, then to burning.
But this time, I felt no pain.
On the contrary, I felt a strange warmth.
A feeling of... being accepted.
A premonition of... rebirth.
The red light from the necklace grew more intense, finally completely enveloping my body, forming a massive cocoon of light.
In the deep sea, that cocoon wrapped in blood-red light was slowly sinking.
Sinking deeper and deeper.
Until it disappeared into the dark abyss.
Beyond the light, dreamlike and illusory.
There, it foretold—
Rebirth.